Local MP backs WA jetties

Three Nationals WA MPs, including our own Peter Rundle, are drafting a private member’s bill that will require the State Government to retain, restore and maintain WA’s three remaining timber jetties.

Member for Roe Peter Rundle, Member for North West Central Vince Catania, and Member for South West Colin Holt hope to present a draft bill to the National Party Room in the coming months.

Mr Rundle is a vocal supporter of restoration of the Esperance Tanker Jetty, which has been closed since November 2015.

“The Esperance Tanker Jetty is an iconic tourist attraction, which I firmly believe has the potential to be restored,” he said. “I will use every mechanism available to me as a Member of Parliament to protect the Esperance jetty, and other iconic jetties in the state. My colleagues and I will be working on a private members bill, and while we are still finalising the details, I’m confident that this bill will help ensure that these iconic structures are preserved.”

Built in 1897, the Carnavon Jetty was closed in August 2017 after an audit of the condition and structural integrity of the jetty raised safety issues. “In 1997 the Carnavon community came together and successfully saved the jetty from destruction, and they’ll do it again,” Mr Catania said. “I believe that the State Government should be supporting these historical pieces of infrastructure and the communities they lie in. This bill will put the onus on the State Government to ensure these jetties are retained, and that their tourism and business potential is maximised.”

After falling in to a state of disrepair, the Busselton community rallied together to raise more than $9 million in 28 years, which coupled with funding from the State Government, led to the Jetty being rebuilt. Mr Holt said that the introduction of this bill would mean that there was no risk of the Busselton Jetty ever facing the same situation again. “After years of deterioration, the Busselton Jetty was restored and has become a huge tourist attraction bringing visitors to Busselton,” he said.